Motor operated can opener



June 5, 1951 R. J. RAAB MOTOR OPERATED CAN OPENER Filed Jun}: 10. 1948 Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOTOR- OPERATED CAN OPENER Richard J Raab, Rochester, N. Y.

Application June 10, 1948, Serial No. 32,071

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in can openers and more particularly to a motor operated can opener including a power operated rotary cutter and a power operated; feed wheel for the can.

An important object of they invention is to provide a motor operated can opener including an electric motor having a switch moved into its circuit closing position by a handle or lever and connecting the rotary cutter to the handle to force the cutter into a position for penetrating the top of a can as the switch is closed.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the motor and the can opening mechanism on an attaching bracket in a compact form whereby the device may be firmly secured in a position to a wall or other supporting structure.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efiicient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes forwhich the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view;

Figure 2 is a top plan view;

Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views taken respectively on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 5 designates an attaching bracket which comprises a vertical plate 6 having a flange 1 at one end for attaching to a wall or other suitable supporting structure by screws or the like 8. A motor housing 9 is secured to the rear surface of the plate 6 in any suitable manner for enclosing an electric motor In which is also secured to the plate 6 as shown at H.

A horizontal shaft 12 is journaled in the plate 5 by means of a bearing l3 formed with the plate the shaft being driven by the motor by means of gearing M.

The shaft l2 projects outwardly at the front surface of plate 6 and to which is suitably secured a feeder gear l5 having a pinion gear I6 formed therewith at its rear side.

A cutter supporting arm I! is positioned against the upper front surface of plate 6 with one end of the arm slidable in a socket or pocket 18 formed on the front surface of the plate adjacent its inner end.

A handle or lever I9 is pivoted adjacent the outer end of plate 6 by means of a rivet or pin 20 for vertical swinging movement of the handle, the handle being positioned against the rear surface of the plate and provided with a pin 2| working in an arcuate slot 22 in plate 6 and engaged in an opening 23 adjacent the outer end of arm [1.

The arm I! is formed or otherwise provided with a downwardly inclined boss 24 terminating at its outer end in a pin 25 on which a gear 26 and a substantially conical cutting disc 21 are journaled and retained in position on the pin by a nut 28 threaded thereon. The gear 26 and cutter 2'! are connected to each other in any suitable manner for rotation as a unit.

A horizontally projecting can guide lug 29 is formed at the lower edge of plate 6 and the arm I! is provided at its lower inner edge by a similar horizontally projecting can guide lug 30 and is provided adjacent its outer end with a vertically inclined can guide lug 3|.

A conventional type of push button switch 32 is suitably secured to the rear surface of plate 5 in the path of downward movement of handle l9 to cut the motor In on and off.

In the operation of the device the handle I9 is normally held in its raised position as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawing whereby the outer end of arm I! will be raised upwardly and moved inwardly.

The beading 33 of a can 34 is then inserted behind cutter 21 and on top of feed gear 15, as shown in Figure 3. The handle I9 is then lowered to close switch 32 and at the same time the pin 2| carried by the handle, working in arcuate slot 22, will slide arm I! outwardly and downwardly to force cutter 21 into the top of the can and to engage gear 26 with gear l6 whereby the can is fed between gear l5 and cutter 21 as the cutter is rotated to cut the top from the can.

The side of the can is held against guide lug 29 while the top of the can is held under guide lug 30 and inclined lug 3| to hold the can steady during the operation of the cutter.

After the top has been sufiiciently cut, the handle [9 is raised to cut off the motor.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled 3 in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the apinvention, c what is moving the cutter into and out of cutting position and also opening and closing the switch.

2. A motor operated can opener comprising in combination, a supporting member, a motor carried thereby, a rotary can feeding member and a rotary can cutter driven by the motor, a switch for the motor, a movable mounting for the cutter carried by the supporting member, and means connected to the mounting for moving the cutter into and out of cutting position and also opening and closing the switch, said means comprising a handle pivoted to the supporting member and said switch being positioned in the path of movement of the handle.

3. A motor operated can opener comprising in combination, a supporting member, a motor carried thereby, a rotary can feeding member and a rotary can cutter driven by the motor, a switch for the motor, an arm slidably carried by the supporting member and on which the cutter is carried for moving the cutter into and out of cutting position, and a handle pivoted to the supporting member and connected to the arm for actuating the same, said switch being positioned in the path of movement of the handle for actuation thereby.

RICHARD J. RAAB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Nelson Feb. 22, 1949 

